Senior Fisheries Officer (m/f)

Description

• WWF MCO is seeking to recruit an experienced, enthusiastic and effective Senior Fisheries Officer who will be responsible for management and implementation of activities in the marine program, towards a common WWF vision and objectives. In particular, he/she will:
• Design, plan and implement small scale fisheries activities of the Seascape Program in collaboration and coordination with Fisheries Officers, P&S Program Manager and Seascape Coordinator
• Provide advice and support to the Seascapes Coordinator/Conservation Manager/P&S Programme Manager and other WWF offices/teams, as appropriate, on fisheries issues
• Support and ensure incorporation of small scale fisheries researches conducted by relevant institutions which may impact WWF Mozambique Seascape Program
• Support the implementation of the WWF Mozambique Seascape Program, ensuring its on-going alignment with national and regional priorities and the Global Oceans Practice

Duties

Implementation of WWF MCO Seascape Projects (60%)

• Implement small-scale fisheries activities of the seascape program and contribute to annual planning and reporting processes of the seascapes unit including preparing annual work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation timelines, financial projections and tools for evaluation - all of those tools being drawn from the WWF standards and tool
• Oversee administrative and financial management of projects including monitoring spending versus budgets
• Advise WWF Marine team and local partners on best strategies/practices for sustainable fishing activities
• Promote co-management at the local, district and provincial level, including strengthening Community Fisheries Councils (CCPs), supporting the development and implementation of technical tools for CCP performance improvement, supporting government and local communities in the effective implementation of Local Artisanal Fisheries Management Plans and strengthening the fisheries co-management approach in target communities
• Design training materials, coordinate and facilitate trainings in fisheries co-management in close collaboration with government institutions
• Coordinate, support and monitor fisheries research studies within WWF projects
• Coordinate and manage fisheries consultancies assignments and ensure the delivery of results
• Support civil society forums or platforms, in which WWF is a party, in fisheries issues
• In coordination with the Seascapes Coordinator and other marine staff, reviewing project proposals/budgets prior to submission to donors to ensure that they are designed/planned in accordance with WWF Project and Programme Management Standards (PPMS)
• Engage with relevant external experts and within the WWF Network to gather information to develop and implement his/her tasks effectively including participating in the Oceans Practice
• Participate in relevant seascapes and conservation team meetings and workshops in the country and the region, and develop papers, reports and presentations where necessary
• Ensure the incorporation of and compliance with WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) in the conceptualization, design, implementation, monitoring and closure of projects within his/her responsibility

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (30%)

• Ensure adequate documentation (including lessons learnt and best practices) of relevant activities implemented
• Coordinate knowledge/learning exchange experience with relevant partners
• Lead continuous observation, reflection, learning, iteration, adaptation and quality improvement process to identify the most salient problems and design appropriate responses, ensuring the highest quality possible of the fisheries programs in close collaboration with the M&E Manager, M&E Officer and implementation partners
• Ensure timely technical reporting to donors and WWF MCO Senior Management Team, and all relevant parts of the WWF Network, as required and according to agreed standards
• Coordinate with the M&E Manager and IT Officer to ensure that the latter posts all technical reports and other relevant documents onto the WWF Project Database and website
• Work closely with the MCO Communications Manager and Communications Officer to disseminate regularly the results of work done in relation to fisheries initiatives
• Development of communication materials on fisheries co-management

Dialogue and Representation (10%)

• Represent WWF MCO at various levels including meetings at local, provincial, national and regional levels on issues that directly relate to fisheries as appropriate
• Support the successful organization of field visits for WWF and other stakeholders related to his/her scope of work
• Establish synergies with ongoing initiatives in Mozambique on small scale fisheries and other conservation sectors or themes
• Provide advice and disseminate results to inform decisions and policy making processes on fisheries conservation
• Others:
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned by the WWF-MCO Country Director, Conservation Manager, Seascapes Coordinator or P&S Programme Manager for the smooth and efficient implementation of the MCO conservation program

Requisites

• Bachelor degree in Fisheries, Marine Biology, Conservation, Environment, Natural Resources Management
• Diploma in the above fields in combination with more than 10 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of Bachelor degree
• At least 5 years of experience working on fisheries management, leading, developing, and managing projects in small scale fisheries or other relevant fields in Mozambique
• Master degree provides advantage
• Required Skills and Competencies:
• Knowledge of the institutional and legal framework of small-scale fisheries, environment and conservation in Mozambique
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing small scale fisheries Projects
• Knowledge on Community management of natural resources and specifically sustainability aspects of small scale fisheries
• Knowledge of the Community Fisheries Councils (CCPs) organization, participatory planning of CCP’s activities, monitoring CCPs performance, structure of co-management, including legal instruments (fisheries licensing, etc.)
• Knowledge of small scale fisheries data collection
• Knowledge of small-scale fisheries management plans development processes
• Experience with multi-disciplinary environment teams, (Government, NGO’s, Donors, Civil Society), would be a strong asset
• Excellent Portuguese and English communication skills (oral and written)
• Excellent inter-personal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels, including with local communities, government agencies, and the scientific community
• Excellent understanding of risk based approaches to managing projects and programmes
• Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Integrity, collaboration, Respect and Courage

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Mozambique is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Critical forest, freshwater and marine land- and seascapes provide important socio-economic benefits to the communities who depend upon them directly, as well as to the national population more broadly. Yet these natural ‘assets’ are under extreme pressure. WWF Mozambique’s (MCO) vision is “a prosperous Mozambique built on thriving ecosystems and environmental citizenship.” This vision is intended to be achieved through a Country Strategy 2020-2030 that stablish three pillars: inclusive conservation of species and habitats, sustainable and equitable livelihoods and greening the footprint of economic development
• Six land and seascapes have been prioritized to be the focus of the vast majority of our conservation work. One of these priority areas is the Primeiras and Segundas Environmental Protected Area (PSEPA). PSEPA is a relatively newly established protected area (2012) and still lacks an administration and surveillance system. WWF MCO has been active in the seascape since 2008 working on conservation and livelihood interventions. Our focus is on supporting ANAC in the management of the protected area; supporting communities on the management of fisheries sanctuaries; developing local artisanal fisheries management plans and support local government and communities in its effective implementation; promoting sustainable management of mangroves and coastal and marine species with commercial and subsistence importance; protection of ETPs and flagship species; and supporting sustainable livelihoods to improve food and nutrition security
• Consequently, WWF MCO is seeking to recruit an experienced, enthusiastic and effective Senior Fisheries Officers to be based in Pebane, Zambezia
• Working Relationships:
• Internal: interacts, works closely and on a regular basis with project implementation personnel in general, and project executants in particular, both in Pebane and in other WWF MCO offices. Coordinates and interacts as appropriate with members of marine team and WWF Africa, WWF International, and other WWF Network staff
• External: Interacts with governmental institutions (national, regional and international), non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, the media, donors, specialists/consultants, and other stakeholders